Lions Den

ON SATURDAY, 26 March, the Casterton -Sandford Football Club was the venue for the District 201V2 Final of the Lions Youth of the Year Competition for 2022.

After preliminary rounds at club, zone and regional levels, five students gathered together before six judges from the Casterton Rotary Club for a 40-minute interview based on a written resume, followed by two, two-minute minute impromptu questions and a five-minute prepared speech.

The impromptu questions and the prepared speeches took place at an evening dinner gathering of 60 people in the club rooms. 

In the impromptu questions students were invited to share their thoughts on the world situation and their local community.

The students then delivered their prepared speeches on the following:

1.  Are home Covid tests effective?  Emma Buttiegig (Kaniva Lions Club)

2.  Where has the truth gone in our world?  Gevindu Wickramanayake (Footscray Lions Club)

3.  Teenagers and Sleep.  Catherine Richardson (Casterton Lions Club)

4.  The loss of opportunities for young people in cricket.  Jayde McMurtrie (Ararat Lions Club)

5.  Period Poverty. Airlie O’Brien (Warrnambool Lions Club)

At the end of the evening chief judge, Toni Thiel, congratulated all students on their excellent performances in all areas of the competition.

The overall winner was Gevindu, while Airlie was judged as the best performer in the Public Speaking Competition.

Thanks were extended by Casterton Lions Club President, Barry Richardson, to all who assisted in the conduct of the Youth of the Year Final, with Certificates of Appreciation being presented to the competing students, the judges, the time-keepers, the Casterton-Sandford Football Club, the Lions Club of Casterton and guest speaker, Councillor Karen Stephens.

Gerindu now moves on to the State Final at Box Hill Town Hall on Saturday, 9 April.

During the Labor Day weekend, Lions Club members joined many locals and visitors in a musical extravaganza at the Sandford Musical Festival.

The music and other entertainments were great.

Thanks to all attendees who supported the Lions Club at our barbeque stall.

Our first practice for the Pipes and Drums Lions Club Debutante Ball will take place at the Anglican Hall at 4pm on Sunday, 10 April.

Practice continues on all Sundays (with the exception of Easter Sunday ) until the end of May.

Debutantes will be presented at the Casterton Town Hall on Friday, 27 May.

Lions Club members continue to be busy with the Glenelg Inn raffle on a Friday night and the football club gates on a Saturday and Sunday at Island Park.

The first Field and Game Shoot is scheduled for Sunday, 3 April at Myaring and 15 May is the date for the Casterton Cup.